Lee Kien How John

Mr. Lee Kien How John is the managing partner of J. Lee & Associates, a medium-size legal firm in Malaysia. He graduated with LLB (Hons) degree from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) ranking among the tops of his year. He also holds a Master of Comparative Laws degree, a post-graduate Diploma in Shariah and Legal Practice both of which from IIUM and, an MA in Economics for Competition Law from King’s Collage London. He is currently a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom as well as a mediator of the Malaysian Bar. He is an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya. Proficient in English, Malay language, Mandarin, he is also the first Chinese origin Shariah practitioner ever admitted by the Shariah (Islamic law) court.

Upon graduation, Mr. Lee chambered in one of the most prominent law firms in the nation which exposed him to heavyweight corporate dealings and complicated and contested general litigations. Later, realising the need of exposure in property and Islamic corporate transaction, he opted for another medium firm, which deals extensively with property (including conveyancing) and Islamic corporate transactions before proceeding to enhance his litigation experience.

Mr. Lee also holds a Master in Laws from IIUM with a specialisation in comparative study of securities and banking laws. Currently, he is in the process of publishing his dissertation, which is a comparative study between conventional and Islamic laws of corporate finance and insurance. Despite his special interest in security insurance and banking law both conventional and Islamic, he has wide areas of interests ranging from shipping law to professional negligence. Also, he is interested with laws relating to intellectual property and construction contract.

His current practice includes corporate and commercial law, competition law compliance and Islamic corporate finance related matters where he advises wide range of clients from local small medium entrepreneurs to multinational corporate entities over their local and transnational business needs. He is instrumental in developing Islamic banking, Takaful and Islamic corporate finance documents and exercise for several financial institutions as well as corporate and governmental entities in Malaysia. He has spoken extensively in seminars, workshops and conferences on various issues and topics concerning Islamic corporate finance and Takaful both locally and internationally

Thus, Mr. Lee has wide experience in corporate dealings from merger, acquisition, alliance, international ventures to international franchise dealings and negotiation and all Islamic related documentations, which are his extreme interests. He has been a part-time lecturer in the law faculty of IIUM since 1999 for both undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. He has taught the subject of “Islamic Banking” for a special exclusive diploma programme in Islamic Banking for legal practitioners which was jointly offered by IIUM and the Bar Council.

He has been a part-time lecturer in the law faculty of IIUM since 1999 for both undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. He has taught the subject of “Islamic Banking” for a special exclusive diploma programme in Islamic Banking for legal practitioners which was jointly offered by IIUM and the Bar Council.

He also lectures occasionally in various other local universities, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and governmental institutions. He has lectured and provided training in Judicial And Legal Training Institute (ILKAP) as well as Syariah Judiciary Department Malaysia (JKSM) for both civil courts and Shariah courts judges concerning Islamic banking. He has lectured for the Master of Science in Islamic Banking programme offered by the IIUM Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF).

Also he has advised numerous governmental and semi governmental entities in relation with Islamic Banking practices and also advised the Attorney General’s Chamber of Malaysia, IIUM, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad (BMMB), Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB), Maybank Islamic Berhad (MIB), Bank Simpanan Nasional Berhad (BSN), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Permodalan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) and Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PNS) on Musyarakah Mutanaqisah financing structures, Istisna’ financing, Murabahah Tawarruq facility, Ijarah Muntahiyah Bi Tamleek, to name a few, and issues thereto.

Also he is one of the members of the Law Reform Committee on Contracts Act established by the Malaysian Government. In 2006, he was a visiting scholar to the Asian Law Centre of the University of Washington. He is currently a Shariah consultant to few governmental agencies as well as few government-funded banks. Besides, he was a member of the Board of Studies of International Islamic University Malaysia for the 2010-2012 tenure. He is currently a member of the Board of Studies of the Faculty of Law of University Malaya for the 2015-2017 tenure.

He is the author of the book “Legal Documentation for Islamic Banking” published by Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia (IBFIM). The book is now the textbook for the Certified Qualification In Islamic Finance (CQIF) for Islamic bankers. Also, he is the co-author of the book “Islamic Financial Services Act 2013: Commentaries” which was published and launched on July 2015 by the Current Law Journal (CLJ). He has also contributed a chapter entitled “IFSA 2013 and FSA 2013: the New Legislation Regulating Islamic Banking and Finance in Malaysia” in “Islamic Banking”, (2nd Ed) to be published by the CLJ this year. His next 3 books “Recovery, Rescheduling & Restructuring in Islamic Finance”, “Islamic Banking in Malaysia: Concept, Theory, Practice and Legal Documentation” and “Cases & Materials on Islamic Finance in Malaysia” will be published by Malayan Law Journal and Lexis Nexis International in January 2016, April 2016 and June 2016 respectively.

He is now a member of the Shariah Advisory (SAC) of the Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM). Also, he is a consultant to few law firms and practices in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.

J Lee & Associates:

J Lee & Associates is a young yet dynamic firm established since early 2001. We are partnered by a team of enthusiastic professional lawyers who inspire to provide full commitment and efficiency in all assignments entrusted by clients. Despite being ‘young’, we plead to serve our clients to the utmost and thus holding our clients’ satisfaction as the prime target.

By the concept of ‘under one roof’, we also aim to serve all corporate needs of our clients and thus, become a one stop hub that could provide the best solutions for all our clients’ business needs. This objective is achieved by the professional experience and training undergone by our lawyers and staff.